I just got back from a few weeks of being an active travel writer, which is in contrast to being an active traveler. For one thing, I stayed in some very swanky hotels in the line of work, while staying at some not-so-swanky ones at other times. In contrast, I have to admit that the …

A walk through the rarefied air of luxury travel magazines. As a travel writer, I feel like I need to be up on what’s going on, so I read a ton of magazines. Even when they seem downright silly, which is how I often feel while leafing through many of them. Why do I always …

What do Chinatown buses, independent hotels, and back street restaurants have in common? Well, once upon a time, I was fortunate enough to see a speaker/author named Roger Von Oech talk about creativity. He has published some neat books and even a pack of cards that help you break your brain out of its complacency …

Besides the fun, the thrills, and the experience of the new, is there a true high-brow reason to spend an extended time away from the home country? Do you really become intelligent, or more aware, or more well-rounded by traveling the world? As I write this we are a week away from a US presidential …

I just spent five hours on a Saturday finishing up a ghostwriting project, after working a good 50 hours already this week. But I didn’t do this so I could squeak out the car payment on a new BMW or add a home theater to my sprawling McMansion. I did it so I could get …